In this exam, a thin, flexible, lighted scope is passed through the rectum into the lower part of the colon to look for polyps, inflammation, bleeding, or other abnormalities. It examines only the lower portion of the colon rather than the entire length, which a full colonoscopy would cover. This version is diagnostic, meaning it is a look-and-report exam without a biopsy or other treatment performed during the same visit.
Rates data updated July 2026.
How much does Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Diagnostic cost?
$384
Typical total for the visit. In Maryland, July 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $384 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $138 to the doctor who performs it, and $245 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.
36% physician fee64% facility fee
These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
What's inside this number
Part of the bill
Who charges it
Typical
Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it
The doctor who performs it
$138
$63.10 to $214
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center
The hospital or surgery center
$245
$63.10 to $1,072
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $245 · 10th to 90th $47 to $1,905Professionalmedian $138 · 10th to 90th $55 to $372
Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$1,905.46
Facility
Global
$46.77
$234.42
$1,905.46
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$407.38
Professional
Global
$54.95
$144.54
$407.38
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$89.13
Professional
Global
$54.95
$58.88
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$436.52
Facility
Global
$138.04
$162.18
$436.52
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$309.03
Professional
Global
$57.54
$147.91
$309.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$331.13
Professional
Global
$125.89
$251.19
$331.13
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$912.01
Facility
Global
$173.78
$323.59
$912.01
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$302.00
Professional
Global
$53.70
$125.89
$302.00
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$323.59
Professional
Global
$58.88
$229.09
$323.59
Where Maryland sits
The same service costs 14.6 times more in New Jersey than in North Dakota. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.
Physician feeFacility feeMaryland $384 · 45th of 51
NJ$4,605$138 physician + $4,467 facility
CA$3,853$138 physician + $3,715 facility
CT$3,689$141 physician + $3,548 facility
NY$3,232$141 physician + $3,090 facility
FL$3,086$135 physician + $2,951 facility
IN$3,063$112 physician + $2,951 facility
HI$3,010$126 physician + $2,884 facility
ME$2,906$151 physician + $2,754 facility
WI$2,702$191 physician + $2,512 facility
GA$2,442$151 physician + $2,291 facility
UT$2,380$141 physician + $2,239 facility
NE$2,320$132 physician + $2,188 facility
PA$2,210$120 physician + $2,089 facility
RI$2,171$129 physician + $2,042 facility
OH$2,105$110 physician + $1,995 facility
CO$2,047$141 physician + $1,905 facility
OK$1,946$126 physician + $1,820 facility
WY$1,916$178 physician + $1,738 facility
DC$1,883$105 physician + $1,778 facility
KS$1,777$117 physician + $1,660 facility
NV$1,748$126 physician + $1,622 facility
MO$1,693$145 physician + $1,549 facility
AZ$1,665$151 physician + $1,514 facility
MI$1,654$105 physician + $1,549 facility
KY$1,654$105 physician + $1,549 facility
IL$1,648$135 physician + $1,514 facility
TN$1,497$148 physician + $1,349 facility
WV$1,488$107 physician + $1,380 facility
LA$1,420$132 physician + $1,288 facility
AL$1,222$126 physician + $1,096 facility
MA$1,221$174 physician + $1,047 facility
NH$1,216$145 physician + $1,072 facility
IA$1,113$158 physician + $955 facility
VT$1,050$138 physician + $912 facility
MS$1,016$145 physician + $871 facility
MN$994$200 physician + $794 facility
AR$989$138 physician + $851 facility
TX$710$135 physician + $575 facility
SD$578$151 physician + $427 facility
WA$549$151 physician + $398 facility
OR$464$162 physician + $302 facility
NC$421$170 physician + $251 facility
SC$410$115 physician + $295 facility
ID$408$145 physician + $263 facility
MD$384$138 physician + $245 facility
AK$381$195 physician + $186 facility
VA$372$138 physician + $234 facility
DE$345$126 physician + $219 facility
NM$342$138 physician + $204 facility
MT$318$123 physician + $195 facility
ND$316$138 physician + $178 facility
NJ $4,605ND $316
Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.